The sky is clear, the air is fresh, and Siya enjoys breakfast with a healthy smile; everything indicates that something big awaits her.
While brewing her coffee, she silently thanks a friend who owns a coffee shop selling coffee beans. This unique shop never allows visitors to carry any gadgets while enjoying coffee. It is inspired by traditional Japanese coffee-style shops, often known as kissaten. The atmosphere of this coffee shop is quiet and Intimate.
“Vintage decor, the aroma that pacifies one’s inner commotion, jazz music, serves hand-dripped coffee, and celebrates the slower pace of life; it seems like it embraces its visitors.''
Siya goes to Kissaten cafe and takes her usual corner table close to the window. The glass is veiled by the mist today, and she cleans the window with her bare hands to watch the morning tradition of people.
She waits for her friend, a History professor. Siya and her friend teach at the same college. Their daily ritual is to visit the Kissaten cafe before heading to the college.
She orders her favourite Americano with two chocolate cookies. She notices the music shifts from jazz to Bob Dylan.
Music playing
''Shelter from the storm.''
Her friend comes, and her ears also welcome the voice of a great artist.
"The times they are a-changin'.''
They let the coffee's temperature settle; this little pause lets them talk about their lectures. Siya invites her friend to her home on Sunday to discuss something. Her friend suggests, ''Let's watch the movie Persepolis.''
On Sunday morning, she wakes up late. She decides to rearrange and clean the bookshelf before her friend arrives. She boils water for coffee and prepares a black coffee with caramel syrup. While having this new flavour, she watches a documentary on the War between the USA and Vietnam. The warm aroma of caramel and the gravity of War seem like an oxymoron. As soon as she starts reorganizing the bookshelf, the bell rings. She opens the door and sees her friend standing there.
Siya: ''Why did you come so early?''
I have so much to do.”
Friend(smiling): ''My body couldn't wait to inform you that you have been selected to present your paper in Oxford next month.''
Siya: ''What? No Way!''
Siya starts jumping, her eyes filled with tears at the door.
I will order the best cheesecake in town for you. You are like Santa who brings joy into the life of a melancholy child.''
Friend: ''What is this mess, Siya? Why do all these books lie on the floor in an untidy manner?
I came here for you to talk and spend a day with you.''
Siya: ''Take a breath. Let me make you a coffee with caramel syrup. I will bring cheesecake with the coffee.''
Friend: ''Yesss.''
''Siya plays a Jazz tune on the Marshall speaker and enters the kitchen.''
Siya’s friend starts organizing the bookshelf and finds an old journal dated 10.06.2019. All of a sudden, a bell rings, and Siya walks to open the door to receive the cheesecake. She is astonished that she got a bouquet of lilacs as a complimentary with cake.
Her friend starts reading the first entry of the journal.
Date: 10.06.2019
She became a dark roast bean after he left.
Every second became like a pot of brew boiling at high temperatures, losing its aroma, leaving only bitterness behind.
She started consuming caffeine as a painkiller, breakfast, lunch, and dinner ended with an empty cup.
An open laptop, a half-empty water bottle,
Five medicines ( to alleviate a headache ), a cup with cracks, a removed hairband, unfinished newspapers, an open notebook, and unfurled earphones.
She lay on the bed with a fatigued heart, waiting for the medicine to show its effects so that she could continue her work.
She was engulfed in her thoughts, wondering, what if this constant agony and suffocation were gone for a while; she pondered about a place or a feeling, where there was no home for torment.
What does that feeling or place look like? How would someone like her react or act about that feeling or a place? Would she believe in it?''
With a delighted face, Siya goes to her room to show her friend the lilacs. She says, "You know how much I adore Lilac."
Jazz is still playing softly in the background.
Siya looks at her friend's face and asks, What happened to you? Your face looks dejected. Why are your fingers trembling? Shall I turn on the heater?
Friend: ''Who is she in this journal? I may have an idea who she is.''
Siya: '' A character, of course. You know I can write, I am a professor.''
Friend: ''From where do you learn to hide things so well?''
Siya): ''I am not hiding anything from you.''
Friend: "You cannot fool me. Do you think I would not notice the date and year written in this journal?"
Please don't lie.
It is you. Tell me it is you.
Siya sits on the chair, puts the lilac aside, and says, Why are you yelling at me and crying because of this journal?
Friend(with teary eyes): '' Why are you behaving like that? I can read your face. You told me that he left you because of caste difference, but this journal reflects a different side of your suffering, the pain you have buried somewhere. I know it is you. This old journal oozes excruciating affliction like you are still holding it.''
Siya (replies with a heavy heart after a long pause): ''It’s me. He left because of caste and career. I did not want to drag you into my despairing life; that's why I hid this part from you. I hardly ate anything for one week straight after he left.''
“ He said, “You can never understand the pain and stress of a man who prepares for an exam like the civil services. You chose a career where efforts hardly count. You read nothing, just made-up stories; no one wants to read these low-class books. Try to read a history book once, and you will understand.
I will never go against my parents for you. Even though you are doing a Ph.D. in Stories, my parents will never accept you. Try to shift your career if you love me.”
Siya replies, “he questioned my dignity and profession, even my caste. I spent five years with him just for being emotionally manipulated by him. I begged him to stay, but he didn’t stay.''
"He came into my life with the mask of an honourable man, similar to those in the Restoration period who concealed their motives behind the mask.''
And you know, I invited you today to talk about something. He messaged me to meet after five years. He is now a civil servant, respected by society and his parents.
Friend(with tearful face): ''I feel remorseful for not being there for you when you needed me. You were burning alive while I was enjoying my life.''
Siya starts crying. She weeps, her whimpering as fragile as shattered porcelain. Her friend hugs her, gently calms her, and serves the cheesecake to Siya. A long silence lingers, hush between hue and cry.
Friend( smiles): ''Let's eat the whole cheesecake, melancholy Siya.''
Siya: ''First, we need to clean the bookshelf, and we will watch Persepolis while having cheesecake.''
Friend: ''Let's organize the bookshelf.''
Jazz still plays in the background, and Siya puts lilac in the glass vase. Lilacs change the room atmosphere from sombre to pleasant.
Her friend changes the music from Jazz to “Blowin' in the Wind “ by Bob Dylan. ''
Friend: ''You still have the hardcovers of The Bell Jar and A Vindication of the Rights of Woman. Please lend me. I also want to make my bookshelf aesthetic.''
Siya: ''No. Never. Buy your own. You never return books.''
Friend(with a grumpy face): Fine. Fine.
Finally, the bookshelf has been organized. Siya puts a newly bought small lamp in the middle row of the bookshelf.
After that, they start watching the movie. In the middle of it, the grandma on the screen declares, "I knew I’d be happier alone than with a damned nuisance.''
Siya laughs a bit after hearing this dialogue.
Her friend whispers that you should listen to this grandma's advice on relationships because you hardly pay attention to mine.
Then she adds, “You can be happy with love and without it. We live in an era where finding the right partner feels like mining for rare metal ores.”
Siya: ''I don't despise affection, even though I like the feeling of love. But the faith in love is flavoursome only in Dramas. I am exhausted.''
Nowadays, love still comes with a facade of caste, religion, similar career choices, etc. People preach Ambedkar, but his quotes are confined to the corners of the pages in exams and political rallies.
The following morning, Siya wakes up early for college. She never forgets following her morning rite at the Kissaten cafe. She sits with her friend there for coffee and mentions her plan to meet her ex-partner after college.
She invites him to the Kissaten cafe. In the evening, the lighting is minimal and gentle, setting the mood for difficult conversations.
Him: ''How have you been?''
Siya: ''Perfectly fine.''
Him: ''You became a professor at the University. I took you for granted at that time.''
Siya: ''How are you?''
Him: ''I am getting married, but before that, I wanted to meet you in person to say Sorry. I made your life unbearable. I didn't even try to check up on you after I broke up. I am sorry, Siya. I am not here to demand your forgiveness. Hope you consider my apologies.''
Siya(smiles): ''I am glad you are doing fine. God bless you, and congratulations on your future.''
He walked away.
Siya orders hot chocolate with coffee.
.jpeg)
.jpeg)
